Drive-chain.



PATIENTEDQMAR. 12, 1907.

' V W. M. BUTLER.

DRIVE CHAIN. APPLIOATION FILED 0013'. 27. 1966.

UNIT STATE WILLIAM M. BUTLER, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THEWHITNEY MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT,

A CORPORATION.

DRIVE-CHAIN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 12, 1907.

Application filed October 2'7, 1906. 8erial N0 340,852.

To a whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM M. BUTLER, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State ofConnecticut, have invented new and useful Improvements in Drive- Chains,of which the following is a specification. V

This invention relates to improvements in securing means forsprocket-chains, and particularly in means for readily connecting anddisconnecting the terminal links of the same.

The invention, broadly stated, consists in providing toggle-link piecesfor engaging the ends of the two terminals pins and having means forlocking the link-pieces in their extended position, at the same timefirmly forcing the same against said pins.

The invention is especially adapted for connecting and disconnectingbicycle-chains, but may be used for larger sprocketchains as, forexample, for automobile-chains or for those in use on various kinds ofmachinery where such chains may be employed.

In the drawings forming part of this application, Figure 1 is a top planview of the end portions of a sprocket-chain, showing one form of mysecuring means for the end links thereof. F ig, 2 is a side elevation ofthe same, showing the toggle-links in their extended and lockingposition. Fig. 3 is a plan view of a portion of a sprocket-chain,showing the initial movement of the parts in unlocking the toggleli11ks,with the handle portion thereof sprung away from its locking engagementwith the chain-pin. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of Fig. 3, showing theposition of the parts as they appear in that figure. Fig. 5 is a planview of the connecting end portions of the sprocket-chain, showing amodified form of my connector in looking position. Fig. 6 is a sideelevation of the parts shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a side elevation ofthe securing means in the position the parts occupy during the initialmovements of the same in the act of removing the togglelinks from thepins.

Referring to these drawings in detail, a and l) designate the outerseries of links, while c and (Z designate the inner series of linkscomposing the sprocket-chain.

e designates the connecting-pins for the end links of the chain andhaving the reduced end portions f, that pass through the holes in thetwo outer series of links and forming the shoulder portions 9 betweenthem. One end of the two adjacent end pins 6 e is provided with. anannular groove h, engaging which grooves are two links 4 and 1,preferably stamped from thin sheet-steel, the link 7' being extended soas to provide a handle and locking part which has an overlappingposition in relation to the link i, as shown in Fig. 1, when in lookingposition. This extended portion is designated by the letter 7c and ispivotally secured to the link i by means of the rivet m. The linkportions '5 and j are each provided at their outer end with a slot orpassage-way n and 0 and fitting into the annular portion h of the pins ee.

1) designates a conical-shaped depression in one of the outerconnecting-links b for receiving the head of the rivet m when in lockingposition, as shown in Fig. 1,

The extended portion it has, near its outer end, a hole Q for receivingthe outer end f of one of the pins e, as shown in Fig. 4.

In use the slots or passage-ways n and 0 in the link portions i and areslipped into the annular grooves h of the pins 6, as shown in Fig. 4,the extended portion lying at one side of the link i, as shown in Fig.4. The operator then presses the extended portion 7c in the direction ofthe arrow r, forcing the toggle-links tightly against the bottom of thegroove h on the pins 6 6 until the portion is carried over the end f ofthe pins 6, which is then in position to pass through the hole 9, thuslocking the toggle-links firmly in place. At the same time the head ofthe rivet m drops into the depression 29 in the outer link I). Theportion 75 being made of resilient spring-steel will firmly retain itsposition on the pin 6. To remove the fastening device for disconnectingthe chain, the reverse operations are necessary.

Referring to the form shown in Figs. 5, 6, and 7, the same constructionis used as far as the elements a, b, 0, (Z, a, f, g, and h areconcerned. The fastening device shown in these fi ures is, however,somewhat modified in that instead of an extended portion for operatingthe locking-links I pivot them together, as shown clearly in Figs. 6 and7, by means of the rivet s at their inner ends t and u of the links 1)and w, the outer end of each link being provided with a slot orpassageway :v and y for engaging the annular groove 72 in one end of theconnectingpin, it being understood that the Width of this passage- Wayis practically of the same dimension as the diameter of the annulargroove. a designates a depression in one of the outer links forreceiving the inner end of the rivet s in the same manner as in the formdescribed above. The toggle-link shown in these figures is used byinserting the slots or passageways 00 and y over the pins 6 and inengagement With the annular grooves h, then by forcing the same intoalinement by exerting an inward pressure at the point 2 on the links, sothat the rivet snaps into the depression p, the toggle-links then beingfirmly locked in place on the pins e e, and any danger of the chainseparating by the loss of parts is entirely prevented.

' What I claim is- 1. In a sprocket-chain of the class described, meansfor securing certain links of the same together, said means including atoggle-link for engaging the adjacent chainpins, and means for lockingthe toggle-link in place on said pins.

2. An improvement in sprocket-oha'in-fastening devices, the sameconsisting of togglelinks provided with passage-Ways at their outerends, pivotal means for securing the 2 same together, there being meanson one of the links of the chain for receiving the inner end of thepivot, as described.

3. An improvement in iastenin means for sprocket-chains the sameincluding toggle-links, the outer ends of the same having passage-Ways,the adjacent chain-pins having an annular groove for receiving thepassage-Ways ofthe links, and means for holding the links in extendedposition, as described.

4. A sprocket-chain connector comprising a toggle-link having means toengage portions of the chain.

5. A sprocket-chain connector comprising pivoted toggle-links havingmeans to engage portions of the chain.

6. A sprocket-chain connector comprising toggle-links, the ends of Whichare slotted to engage portions of the chain.

7. A sprocket-chain connector comprising V toggle-links, the ends ofwhich are provided. W1th means for engaging the -connectingpins of thechain.

WILLIAM M. BUTLER.

WVitnesses FRANK A. HAGARTY, WILLIAM F. HENNEY.

